2018 tench campaign gets off to a flyer

Christopher Taylor has got his 2018 tench campaign off to a flying start with a rack of double-figure fish, topped by this specimen of 11lb 13oz. 

Fishing a bay on a southern stillwater, the Hampshire angler arrived at first light but had to wait four hours for the first bite.

He said: “After a drop-back that resulted in a hook pull I was cursing my luck and thinking I’d probably blown my only chance of the day when the other rod roared off. That resulted in 8lb 15oz tench.

“ Five minutes later the first rod was away again – the fish put up a dogged fight, and in the net I could see that it was clearly a good double.”

Chris’ helicopter rig incorporated three rubber casters on the hook that fooled two other tench over 7lb in the remainder of the session.